Science for their continued support of the Young
Scientist Exhibition. We are also delighted to announce
that this year we are working with the Department of
Education Northern Ireland for the first time and their
enthusiasm for the project is greatly appreciated.
The students who are showcasing their projects this
week are already winners. I would like to congratulate

BT Terms and Conditions and minimum contract apply. See www.btireland.ie/termsandconditions. Service is dependant on survey, compatibility and availability. Actual
speed is subject to distance from the exchange and line quality. BT will provide the maximum broadband speed that the customer's phone line can support. Up to 24M b
available in certain areas, see www.btireland.ie/24Mb. In all other areas up to 7.6Mb is available. Information correct at time of going to press, December 2008.

Priomhfheidhmeanach, BT

11I

0

'1', BT YOUNG SCIENTIST
&Technology Exhibiton 2009 BT J^
BT would like to thank the following bodies and organisations for their support

Category Awards
There are 36 prizes for Individuals and 36 prizes for
Group projects. The prizes take the form of 1st, 2nd and 3rd
prizes in Junior, Intermediate and Senior sections of
each of the four categories:

Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies

II

awarded to an Individual, a Best Group Award

Pfizer Ireland Pharmaceuticals

2. Social and Behavioural Sciences

will also be made. If the title BT Young Scientists

W5

3. Technology

The Tree Council of Ireland
A N R O I N N

OIDEACHAIS
AGUS EOLAIOCHTA

DEPAIFTMENT OF

EDUCATION
ANDSCIENCE

If the title BT Young Scientist of the Year is

1. Biological and Ecological Sciences

Wyeth Medical Ireland

L"

BT Young Scientist(s)
of the Year 2009

ENFO

of the Year is awarded to a Group, a Best
Individual Award will be made.

4. Chemical , Physical and Mathematical Sciences

Sustainable Energy Ireland

fllANALOG
DE VICES
QeI J

leering

Eco Unesco

The prizes are as follows:

Failte

• 1st prize of €300 for both Individual

Dublin Zoo supported by RPII
Naturally Wild
Camara

Department of

Fresh Film Festival

Education

RTE

VITA.ie
The President 's Award

Oideaehais
aeuen'SllaE D

Astronomy Ireland
Friends of Londini
Face - Up Magazine

chan•e.ie

HEALTH AND SAFETY
AUTHORITY

Birdwatch Ireland

0

Order of Malta

sMAKr

I) safefooc

Tipperary Institute
Colaiste Dhulaigh
Royal Society of Chemistry

,` Irish Aid
Department of Foreign Autos
An Rolnn GnOthai Eachtracha

IOP Institute of Physics
In Ireland

Self Help
Africa

IRISH PATENTS OFFICE
°A!fINNI

sfl

The
Forensc
Science
Lahoratorr,

-ta

0

In the event of a tie in any category, the prize money
will be split equally.
A number of Highly Commended and Display awards will
be awarded in each category by the panel of judges.

Analog Devices Student Award
This award is presented to an Individual or Group for
outstanding work exhibited in the Technology category.

ers
Visit Schools!

The prize consists of a trophy plus an all expenses paid trip to
America as the guest(s) of Analog Devices, visiting Boston and
San Francisco. In addition, Analog Devices will donate €2,500

Last Year's winner of the Analog Devices Technology Award , David McCarthy

to the school of the winning student(s) as a contribution

(6th Year student. C.B.S Midleton) won an all expenses paid trip to Boston and

towards its science laboratory equipment fund.

Silicon Valley in America David(2nd from left) is pictured hereon his visit to
.
the Analog Devices Design Centre in San Jose, Silicon Valley, California discussing his BT Young Scientist Project with from left Jonathan Audy (Lead
Technologist for Power Management, Analog Devices), David McCarthy (2008

SF1 strongly encourages the researchers it supports
to visit primary and secondary schools to give talks
on their own research , on more general science
and engineering topics or on careers in science and
engineering.

Intel Student Award
This award is presented to the best placed project, either
Group or Individual, in the Chemical, Physical & Mathematical
Sciences category, except where the project has been selected

Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) is

as BT Young Scientist of the Year winner.

investing in scientific and engineering
research underpinning the Biotechnology
Technology (ICT) and Sustainable Energy

the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Reno,
Nevada in May 2009. The teacher/mentor of the winner(s)
in Reno.

The winner receives the Analog Devices Trophy plus an all
expenses paid trip to America.

These awards are presented to the teachers
whose commitment and encouragement has
consistently enabled their students to participate
successfully in the following subject areas:
Mathematics , Physics, Chemistry,
Technology and Computing at the Exhibition.

Intel Educator of Excellence Award
The winner will receive the Intel Trophy plus an
All-Expenses paid trip to USA to attend the Intel Educators'
Academy. This is run in conjunction with the Intel
International Science and Engineering Fair also in Reno,

Come visit our stand :

sfi
science foundation ireland
fonduireacht eolaiochta eireann

Nationalllevelopment Plan 2007 2013

in the Industries Hall to learn more about Speakers for
Schools and other
SFI Programmes such as the SFI/
Dell Young
Women in Engineering Scholarship
www.sfi .i outreach
or visit

Barn Owl in County Cork and to Evaluate
Rodenticide Use as a Possible Factor in
the Decline in the Barn Owl Population
Overview: Investigating the distribution

decline of the Barn Owl population.

Stand no: 1009

Student(s): Danielle Ronan
Title: Breeding Better Bettas

(Siamese Fighter Fish)
Overview: I'm going to find out the best

Title: How to Increase Biodiversity in

Balbriggan Area
Overview: This is a physiological
investigation on the cardiorespiratory

Dublin Gardens

fitness of teenagers in the Balbriggan

area and the correlation between Vo2

temperature, food, and how to introduce
the pairs.

the Pitch and Tone Produced in the

max and age, gender.

School: Mount Anville Secondary School

Overview: To investigate how different

School: Balbriggan Community College
Teacher: Ms. Theresa Gannon

Teacher: Ms. Maim 0' Donohoe

Dr Tony Scott

Overview: I will research features that
influence biodiversity in Dublin gardens
using surveys and direct observation and
thereby make recommendations for
practical improvements for gardeners.
School: The High School - Dublin

exposure of a shore affects the shape of
the shells and foot size of Patella vulgata.

Teacher: Mr. Stephen Carey

Title: What Effect do Different Shampoos
have on the Tensile Strength of Hair?

School: Mary Immaculate Secondary

Stand no: 1424

Overview: The purpose of this experiment

Student(s): Elizabeth Kelleher,
Hazel Buckley, Bronagh Masterson

two species of starfish, Asterias rubens

and Asterina gibbosa, to right themselves
is affected by temperature.
School: Mary Immaculate Secondary
School - Lisdoonvarna
Teacher: Mr. John Sims

Title: Can Our Washed Out Soil Be Saved?
Overview: The structure and chemical
properties of soils have been affected by
current erratic weather.This project aims
to develop a solution that agriculture
could adopt.
School: Moate Community School

Teacher: Ms. Irene O ' Sullivan
Stand no: 1511

Title: Breathing Your Way To Good Health

was to determine how various shampoos
affect the tensile strength of human hair.
School: Colaiste Ailigh

What Lives With Them?
Overview: We want to see what other

Stand no: 1418

Overview: Investigate the role of

Teacher: Mr. Micheal 0 Giobuin

Student(s): Eamonn Durnin, Kyle Mulligan,

breathing in health. We hope to verify

Stand no: 1504

Student(s): Moire Sexton Torres,
Abigail Slazenger,
Title: Olfactory Learning and Memory
Overview: This project examines the link
between gender and age and olfactory

Student(s): Hazel Ochate, Emma Flynn,
Kathy McCarthy
Title: To Compare the Activity of the
Enzyme Catalase in Different Types of Food
Overview: We are goinig to select ten
different foods and compare the activity

Title: An Analysis of Yeast Reproduction
in Sugar Substitutes under Aerobic and
Anaerobic Conditions
Overview: The metabolism of yeast solutions,
some "fed" with sugar, others with sugar
substitutes and others with only warm water
under aerobic and anaerobic conditions.

Study on the Wii Fit Versus
Conventional Exercise
Overview: We are trying to find out if
exercising with the Wii Fit is as good as
conventional exercise and if people find it
more enjoyable.
School: St Joseph's College - Athlone

School: Lanesboro Community College

Stand no: 1557

Levels in Local Streams

inhabit them.

the Lough Ree area for various types of
pollution including Nitrogen, Phosphate
and Coliform levels.

Student(s): Freda Nic Oscair,

Title: The Assessment of Natural Active

when exposed to various gases produced

School: Summerhill College

species . We wish to find out if certain

Kieran Cummins

School - Lisdoonvarna

wear lynx deodrant.

factors , such as pollution in rivers, affect

Title: Non-chemical Testing of Pollution

whether algae could survive and grow
in the burning of domestic kerosene

Title: Fresh Fruit? An Investigation into
the Effectiveness of Packaging
Overview: The aim of our project is to
investigate which type of packaging is

most effective in preventing bacterial
germination in fruit.

Title: Wii - A Form of Exercise or just

School: Colaiste Choilm

School: Colaiste Choilm

Teacher: Mr. Donal 0 Laoire

Teacher: Mr. Hugh O ' Callaghan

before mating is a genetic factor or an

School: Balbriggan Community College

individual breed factor.

Teacher: Ms. Theresa Gannon

Bridgeen Deveeney,

Stand no: 1606
Student(s): Louise Stack,

Stand no: 1612

School: Christ King Girls Sec. School
Teacher: Mrs. Laura Mc Namara

Title: How Sweet Is Your Potato?

Kellieanne O'Brien,

Overview: We intend to investigate
to their sugar concentration to determine

Title: Where Do Hazelnuts Go?
Overview: The see at what rate hazel
nuts are removed after they have fallen

the ideal sugar molarity of these potatoes

different potato varieties in relationship

for cooking.
School: Mulroy College
Teacher: Mr. Stephen Doherty

Student(s): Jessica Bowen,

Aisleen Sheehan,
Title: To Investigate the Different Species
of Micro-Organisms and their Ability to
Survive Depending on the Concentration
of Chlorine Found in Various Treated
Water Samples
Overview: A project investigating the
identity and number of micro- organisms

or not home grown produce is better for
you than organic/conventionally grown
produce obtained from a supermarket.
School: Skerries Community College
Teacher: Dr. Katie Corbett

Overview: Obesity is a huge problem.
Many of us prefer to play computer
games than exercise. I'm investigating

Stand no: 1617

Title: What's your Carbon Footprint? An

Student ( s): Shona Mulligan,

Investigation into Households in the

Overview: The aim of this project is to

Hannah Doherty , Niamh Mc Donnell

Balbriggan Area

Stand no: 2008
Student(s): Oisin Roche-Lancaster
Title: Safer School Uniforms
Overview: I am doing a project on
safer school school uniforms and their
visibility in general - in the dark and in
the evening.

Stand no: 1603
Stand no: 1571
Student(s): Aoibheann Laird,
Elizabeth McKenna , Dearbhla McGuigan
Title: Can the Cockroach Teach Humans
Some Survival Techniques?
Overview The cockroach has a reputation
as being very resilient to attack from

Staphyloccus infection of Irish dairy cows

Overview: I intend to find out what
issues/difficulties are faced by children
with CP in mainstream education and
what could be done to help them.
School: Castletroy College
Teacher: Ms. Celine Moloney

Stand no: 1611

Title: Fertility Problem with
Freemartin Calves
Overview: We aim to look at the problem
that arises with females of mixed twin
calves. These female calves will be

the historic Irish death rates to enable
predictions about future death and life

Aoife Ni Dhonaile , Rebecca Ni Riain

phenomenon. We plan to do a number
of experiments to question the

Student(s): Michael Breen ,

Elderly Enough Time to Cross?

School: Community School,

the Mind

Overview: In this project we intend to

School: St Marys College - Rathmines

a g us Aclaiocht

Kyle Fitzgerald , Michael Walsh

Overview: We will investigate if the

Carrick-on -Shannon

investigate the effects of subliminal

Teacher: Mr. John Nisbet

daoine at aclaiocht a g us mothuchan na

Title: A Generational Difference! Attitudes
Towards Drink Driving!

School: Colaiste losagain

Overview: This is a survey of attitudes
towards drinking and driving of people
aged 18-25 and 50-65 and the possible

elderly have enough time to cross the
roads at pedestrian lights. To do this we
will time and survey pedestrians at

Teacher: Mrs. Jacqueline Walsh

daoine sin .

Stand no: 2506

Overview: To determine the effects the
"Brain Training" game has on mental
faculties e.g. memory, reflexes and focus
by testing subjects before and after

pedestrian lights.

Student(s): Hannah Ni Chonghaile,

Brain Training.

School; Loreto College - Foxrock

Deirdre Ni Mheachair,
Title: An Bhfuil Gaol a Bhaineann le Ceol

School: Colaiste Choilm

Stand no: 2425
Student(s): Rachael Toland deBurca ,

Overview: Feachaint ar eifeacht aiste bia

Teacher: Ms . Valerie Ni Chochlain
Stand no: 2426

effectiveness of ad campaigns.

Student(s): Aoife Ni Chroidhedin , Aisling

School: St Joseph's Academy - Kildare

Ni Ra g hallia g h , Caoimhe Ni Chrdinin

Teacher: Ms. Sinead Sheils

Teacher: Ms. Helen Hennessy

Teacher: Mr. Pat Meaney

Agus Cothromaiocht?

'expectancy rates.

messaging in advertising and everyday

life and the truth behind it all.
School: Meanscoil San Nioclas
Teacher: Dr. Colette Ni Nuanain

Stand no: 2526
Student(s): Darren Noonan, Evan Horgan,

Title: Exam Year Stress
Overview: Our project will focus on stress
and stress management in teenagers who
are in an examination year. We will also
see how students manage this stress.
School: Carrigallne Community School
Teacher: Ms. Maura Carroll

Catherine Williams
Title: Can Teenagers Admit how they see
Themselves Socially?
Overview: The aim of our project is to
discover if teenagers describe themselves
as being more extroverted than they
really think they are.

sporting activities. Also what drinks are
best suited to affect performance in a

Overview: We will investigate the

Stand no: 2430

Overview: Conduct surveys in both
boys/girls secondary schools. We will

positive way.

advantages and disadvantages of pet

Student(s): Laura Heal y,

present it as a project. We will consult

School: Blackwater Community School

ownership. We will investigate how pet

Caitriona Fitzgibbon , Clodagh Murphy

Teacher: Mr. David King

Title: The Effects Of Music On

books and articles about this subject.
School: Christ King Girls Sec. School

Autistic Peo p le

Teacher: Deirdre Brosnan

Stand no: 2504
Student (s): Fiona Gaffney,

Stand no: 2437
Student(s): Niamh Hughes,
Madeline Clancy , Aoife Curran 0' Neill
Title: Mind Over Music
Overview: We want to investigate the
claim made by many students that they
revise better when listening to music.

investigate the influence which
different colours have on mood and
to measure the degree to which colour
changes mood.
School: Cavan Vocational School

of how people approach wordsearches,

Teacher: Miss Kerri-Ann Thornton

Stand no: 2517

Stand no: 2523

the most effective method and how the

ownership may affect your health, in
good ways and bad.
School: Colaiste Choilm

Student(s): David McDonnell,
Eoghan Buckley

brain works with regards to wordsearches.

Stand no: 2537

School: Bandon Grammar School
Teacher: Ms. Carena Mullins

Student(s): Aidan Coffey,

Teacher: Mr. Pat Meaney

Teenage Health and Behaviour

Student(s): Tara Doyle, Fiona Martin
Title: The Irish Vote that Rocked the
Lisbon Boat - What Teenagers Would Do
Overview: Assess teenagers' current

Overview: This project aims to explore the

knowledge of the Lisbon Treaty. Provide

Stand no: 2531

area of examination stress and provide an
increased understanding of the issue for

two voting opportunities, with minimal

Student(s): Maria Donlan, Aoife Ni Argain
Title: Investigating how Musical Talent is
a Reflection of Academic Ability
Overview: We will compose a test with an
abstract section, a verbal reasoning
section and a non-verbal/computation
section. We will give the test to our two

Stand no: 2510
Student(s): Aisling Deasy, Sinead Crowley

Stand no: 2511

Games Improve Memory?

Student(s): Mairead Murphy,

use of brain training games help improve
peoples' memorising ability.

School: Magh Ene College

Elizabeth Powell
Title: Giving Blood - Educating Teenagers?
Overview: To investigate the influence of
education on attitudes to and knowledge
of blood donation among male and
female transition years in two schools

out an extra "investigation", we will study
the long term memory of the students in
the 13 - 14 age group.
School: Loreto College - St Stephens Green
Teacher: Ms. Jennifer Campbell

of Colour on Memory
Overview: We intend to determine if
different coloured text or different
coloured backgrounds affects students '
ability to memorise words.
School: Magh Ene College
Teacher: Ms. Yvonne Higgins

the said characteristics of middle child
syndrome and birthing order are
indeed true.

Natalia Rachwal, Olimpia Lech

Overview: To investigate if age, gender,

School: F.C.J. Secondary School

Vitamin D Levels in the Irish Population

Stand no: 2561

Title: What is the Link between Body

school type or family have any influence

Teacher: Ms. Steph 0' Dwyer

and compose a recommendation to help

Student(s): Jason Tourish, Nicole Roan,

Image and Teenage Girls considering

on how easily you make friends and talk

Diet Pills?
Overview: We look into the danger of
taking diet pills and investigate their cost
on your health and why they are popular.
School: Dominican College - Drumcondra
Teacher: Ms. Lorraine McCool

Stand no: 2555
Student(s): Aoife Cremin,
Samantha Coomey, Meghan 0 Brien
Title: Missing Children: What Gets Done?
Overview: We aim to investigate and
uncover the problems and solutions to
this growing concern of missing children
and to offer more security to the youth.

Senior - Group

Teacher: Ms. Orlaith O'Sullivan

Title: At What Age do Girls and Boys
Memories Peak?
Overview: We will expand our studies on

Surrounding Haulbowline
Overview: We plan to research the
effects of chromium (VI) on the local
communities around Haulbowllne and the

Student( s): Ellie O'Beirn , Alison Duffy,

Title: Do Sleep Pattern have an Effect on

Overview: An Investigation into what

Maeve Brassil
Title: Body Image: Her View Vs. His!
Overview: Our project is based on the
difference in opinions between teenage
males and females on what the "perfect"
body image in a female is.

Teenage Athletic Performance?
Overview: We will record nine athletes'
sleeping patterns. They will partake in
various tests. In each sport there will be
a control who won't change their
sleeping patterns.

career people in primary, secondary, and

college education hope to achieve and
how changes can occur in their career
aspirations.
School: Colaiste Choilm
Teacher: Mr. Pat Meaney